Christmas Bells

Christmas Bells
Christmas Bells - Blandfordia nobilis

Friday, February 27, 2009

Another Moth - Proteuxoa sanguinipuncta

This charming Moth was hanging around my front porch two nights ago. I had not seen it before.

It looked a little like the Hunchback of Notre Dame, I thought, or else a very overweight Rugby Prop Forward (scaled down, and then dressed in a winter overcoat). It might even be thought to resemble a member of the Russian Mafia, with that rich fur stole around its shoulders.
According to Donald Hobern's very useful FlickR Gallery of Australian Moths, it is Proteuxoa sanguinipuncta. It certainly has blood red spots (as per the second name).

According to Don Herbison-Evan's site, its caterpillars feed primarily on grass.
The lower sections of the fore-wings (the only ones visible, when it is at rest, like this) are richly spotted with red, and dusted with gold and brass-coloured flecks.

It is not a showy moth, but by far one of the prettiest I have seen in a while - and it appears to be a native.
The Ermine Moth is prettier (but it is introduced). So tonight's Moth is OK, by me.

1 comment:

mick said...

The beautiful rich fur stole is a very good description indeed. lol